SPECIAL SESSION: Boeing incentive debate shifts to House

The House today debates the Senate’s version of a bill that offers up to 1.7-billion over 23 years to Boeing if it will build its 777X airliner in Missouri.

St. Charles representative Anne Zerr is carrying the Boeing incentive proposal in the House.

If the bill, Senate Bill 1, clears the House without changes that would essentially end the special session Governor Jay Nixon called so lawmakers could consider his proposal. Jason Zamkus with the Governor’s Office told the House Economic Devlopment Committee the bill “absolutely” gives the Governor everything he wanted from the legislature in order to make a pitch to Boeing.

Lawmakers have been relying on Nixon to tell them what Boeing says it wants from the state in which it will build the 777X.

The bill would extend the limits on four economic development programs for Boeing, and require the aerospace company to report annually on the hiring and training of minorities and women, a check in 10 years of the state’s benefit from the deal and would make sure tax increment financing dollars go only to Boeing and not Lambert Airport.

“It shows that we’re eager, we’re willing and we can step up to the plate,” Zerr says. “Quite frankly this is unprecedented. We’ve got both chambers working together, both sides of the aisle working together, we’ve got the Governor working with us, we’ve got labor working with us, and I think that shows that we can get something done.”

If the House passes the bill it could be signed by the leaders of both the House and the Senate and delivered to the Governor today. Missouri is competing with a least 12 other states for 777X production. All offers are due to Boeing by Tuesday.